The Movement
The Movement
A developing philosophy of architecture and urban design, shared through teaching, writing, workshops and symposia. This page sets out what it proposes, how its principles have been formulated, and where it came from.
01 What it proposes
A forward-looking reading of context.
‘New Contextualism is a forward-thinking philosophy that advocates for creating built environments informed by accurate predictions of the future, deeply rooted in the past and encompassing a holistic understanding of the context.’
The approach treats context as far more than the physical surroundings of a site. It reads places through ten overlapping dimensions, draws on history as the basis for anticipating the future, and places equity and justice at the centre of design (Reza 2023b; Reza 2025). Its proponents describe it as process-based rather than style-based: what is new lies in a method of reading and weighing context, not in a recognisable architectural form (Reza and Nitu 2025).
Editorial summary Awaiting the founder’s approval
Three aims, as summarised by Reza and Nitu (2025)
- 01
Sense of place and identity
‘Sense of place and identity, honoring culture and memory while embracing contemporary design.’
- 02
Sustainability
‘Sustainability minimizes energy, carbon, and waste while adapting to the local climate.’
- 03
Social engagement
‘Social engagement creates inclusive, life-giving spaces that encourage interaction and well-being.’
Quoted from Reza and Nitu 2025.
02 Principles
Principles, as they have been formulated.
The principles of New Contextualism have been stated several times, with different emphases. The table aligns three published formulations by theme, quoting the principles as they appear in each source. Reading across a row shows how an idea has been carried forward; empty cells show where a formulation does not name it as a principle.
Interpretation Editorial alignment of quoted principles
| Theme | June 2023 Workshop at BRAC University (BRAC University 2023) | April 2025 The Daily Star (Reza 2025) | September 2025 Context BD (Reza and Nitu 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anticipating the future | Forward-looking design informed by accurate predictions of the future | Forward-Thinking Design Anchored in Prediction | Forward-thinking design; Informed by prediction |
| Learning from history | A profound understanding of historical trends | Historical Grounding as Foundational Knowledge | Learning from the past |
| A broad reading of context | Recognition of the diverse and extensive nature of context | Holistic Context Understanding – The Tenfold Matrix | A broad sense of context |
| The universal and the particular | Not named as a principle | Balancing the Universal and the Particular – The Art of Hybridization | Not named as a principle |
| Adaptability and resilience | Not named as a principle | Designing for Adaptability and Resilience | Not named as a principle |
| Equity and justice | A focus on equity and justice through inclusive and diverse designs | Not named as a principle | Equity and justice |
In April 2025 equity and justice are described as ‘central to its ethos’ rather than listed among the tenets (Reza 2025). The September 2025 essay adds a sequence of three phases (Read, Plan and Process) and a ten-layer lens that differs slightly from the ten dimensions (Reza and Nitu 2025); see the Philosophy.
03 Development
New Contextualism 2.0
The founder’s 2025 essay describes a further stage of the approach, the outcome of ongoing work at BRAC University. It reflects ‘a heightened urgency regarding global environmental challenges and a more explicit integration of contemporary sustainability frameworks’ (Reza 2025).
Editorial summary Awaiting the founder’s approval
- 01
Nature-inspired design
Learning from the strategies by which local ecosystems and organisms thrive in specific conditions.
- 02
Deep sustainability integration
Embedding sustainability across the design lifecycle, from material sourcing to waste reduction, beyond superficial ‘greenwashing’.
- 03
Alignment with the SDGs
Mapping design intentions and outcomes against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- 04
Proactive resilience
Anticipating future climate impacts, such as sea-level rise and increased storm intensity.
Summarised from Reza 2025. On the Sustainable Development Goals, see United Nations General Assembly 2015.
04 Origins
From the delta to the studio.
The founder traces the approach to two experiences: early work as an architect-planner for the Barisal City Corporation, reconciling new interventions with existing urban fabric in a deltaic environment, and doctoral research on the early Buddhist architecture of Bengal, whose monasteries he describes as shaped by climate, local materials, ritual and ways of life (Reza 2023b; Reza 2025). Since then it has been cultivated for more than a decade at BRAC University, in studios and thesis supervision (Reza 2023b; Reza and Nitu 2025).
Editorial summary Awaiting the founder’s approval
-
2004–2007
Architect, Barisal City Corporation
Early work on area development in a deltaic city, including the Bibir Pukur region and the Multipurpose City Market, later identified by the founder as the point at which he first felt the need for this approach.
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2013
Doctoral research on the early Buddhist architecture of Bengal
PhD in architectural history and theory, Nottingham Trent University. The founder describes this research as reinforcing his conviction that context shapes successful architecture.
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September 2013
Teaching at BRAC University
The founder joins BRAC University, where the philosophy is cultivated in design studios over the following decade.
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10 June 2023
First public workshop
‘Exploring New Contextualism: An Approach to Architecture and Urban Design’, a lecture series and hands-on exercise at the School of Architecture and Design, BRAC University, Dhaka.
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19 December 2023
‘A path to a sustainable and equitable future’
Essay setting out the approach's principles and origins, published in The Business Standard and by Arch-Bangla.
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17 February 2024
Workshop on New Contextualism 2.0
‘Exploring New Contextualism 2.0: An Approach to Architecture and Urban Design’, Department of Architecture, BRAC University.
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23 April 2025
‘An architectural philosophy for deltaic Bangladesh’
Essay in The Daily Star defining the ten dimensions as a ‘tenfold matrix’ and describing New Contextualism 2.0.
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16 August 2025
Online symposium
‘Reflections on New Contextualism: Voices from Practice and Academia’, organised by the New Contextual Group.
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16 September 2025
‘Architecture and Urbanism for People, Place, and Justice’
Essay by Reza and Nitu presenting five guiding principles, the ten-layer lens and a set of case studies.
05 Mission and vision
Mission and vision
Mission
To develop and share New Contextualism as an open, rigorous and critically examined approach to architecture and urbanism: documenting its sources, testing its methods in teaching and practice, and inviting dialogue across disciplines and regions.
Proposed statement Awaiting the founder’s approval
Vision
Built environments that are rooted in their places, just to the people who inhabit them, and prepared for the futures they will meet.
Proposed statement Awaiting the founder’s approval
These statements are drafts put forward for discussion. They have no official status until approved by the founder.
06 Taking part
An open conversation.
Architects, urban designers, academics, researchers and students are invited to engage with the approach: to apply it, test it and question it.
Sources
New Contextualism
- Arch-Bangla 2023Arch-Bangla. 2023. “Exploring New Contextualism: an approach to Architecture and Urban Design.” Arch-Bangla, June 12, 2023. https://arch-bangla.com/exploring-new-contextualism-an-approach-to-architecture-and-urban-design/. Record
- BRAC University 2023BRAC University. 2023. “Daylong workshop and lecture sessions held on ‘Exploring New Contextualism: An Approach to Architecture and Urban Design’.” BRAC University News, June 21, 2023. https://www.bracu.ac.bd/news/daylong-workshop-and-lecture-sessions-held-exploring-new-contextualism-approach-architecture. Record
- Reza 2023bReza, Mohammad Habib. 2023b. “New contextualism: A path to a sustainable and equitable future.” The Business Standard, December 19, 2023. https://www.tbsnews.net/features/habitat/new-contextualism-path-sustainable-and-equitable-future-760366. Record
- Reza 2025Reza, Mohammad Habib. 2025. “New Contextualism: An architectural philosophy for deltaic Bangladesh.” The Daily Star, April 23, 2025. https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/focus/news/new-contextualism-architectural-philosophy-deltaic-bangladesh-3878456. Record
- Reza and Nitu 2025Reza, Mohammad Habib, and Upama Das Nitu. 2025. “New Contextualism: Architecture and Urbanism for People, Place, and Justice.” Context BD, September 16, 2025. https://contextbd.com/new-contextualism-architecture-and-urbanism-for-people-place-and-justice/. Record
Further reading (editorial selection)
- United Nations General Assembly 2015United Nations General Assembly. 2015. “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” Resolution A/RES/70/1, October 21, 2015. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda. Record
Documentary sources
- BRAC University n.d.BRAC University. n.d. “Mohammad Habib Reza, PhD.” Faculty profile, BRAC University. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.bracu.ac.bd/node/1077. Record
- Context BD 2024Context BD. 2024. “Exploring New Contextualism 2.0: An Approach to Architecture and Urban Design.” Context BD (events). Accessed October 19, 2026. https://contextbd.com/events/event/exploring-new-contextualism-2-0-an-approach-to-architecture-and-urban-design/. Record
- Context BD 2025Context BD. 2025. “Reflections on New Contextualism: Voices from Practice and Academia.” Context BD (events). Accessed October 19, 2026. https://contextbd.com/events/event/reflections-on-new-contextualism-voices-from-practice-and-academia/. Record